Jumper
Review By: Kat

Anywhere is possible.

One of the first big blockbusters of 2008, Jumper centers around a young man with the ability to teleport, AKA ‘Jump’. He essentially uses his power for selfish means; teleporting into bank vaults or shops to steal and saving on air fairs by jumping to any location he wishes to visit. He soon discovers that there have been people like him since before the middle ages and that a group of people known as ‘Paladins’ exist with the soul intent of killing jumpers – and anyone who gets in the way (girlfriends included).

Jumper’s biggest positive: Killer special effects. The film portrays jumping as a breath taking dream ability. David jumps to numerous fantastic locations, everywhere from Rome to Hawaii (the production visited over 9 countries). In fact, Jumper had the rare honor of actually filming inside the Coliseum.

As far as cast performances went both star Hayden Christensen and romantic supporting lead Rachel Bilson were both rather bland. There performances weren’t entirely irritating, personally, though members of my party complained the moment we left the theatre. Samuel L. Jackson was fine as the films villain and in a supporting role; Jamie Bell did a fantastic job of highlighting just how boring the other characters were. He stole every scene and I kind of wish the film revolved around him instead.

The initial half hour of the film jumped from one point in time to another in a rather jarring and random way which personally irritated me. I would have liked things a little more streamlined.

Overall Jumper is a fun blockbuster you’ll probably enjoy. It inspires the imagination and portrays super hero abilities and the people who possess them in a far less heroic way then most films which is fun. The effects are stunning and locations beautiful. I saw Into the Wild in the same week, however, and for a film with a fraction of the budget I enjoyed it a whole lot more.